As I get older, it becomes more difficult to remember some things.  People's names, dates, etc.  Also, where did I put it?? Today, let's talk about places.  Here are the basics that I teach to elementary school kids: IN, ON, UNDER,BY. In the box. On the table, Under the sofa. By the TV. But, even some of these are a bit strange. The picture is on the piano. The picture is on the wall. Let's go to the next level.  How specific can you tell me where something is in your house?

1.  My corn holders are at the back of the 2nd drawer from the top, next to my oven.
2. My Bufferin is in the plastic case on the left side of the 2nd shelf from the top, in the cabinet next to my bathroom sink.
3. My wine glasses are on the right at the back of the cupboard over my kitchen sink.
4. My summer shirts are in my walk in closet hanging on the right side of the rack.
5. My white out is in the 2nd drawer of the filing box under my computer.
6. My cabbage is in the bottom drawer of my refrigerator.
7. My eggs are in the egg holder in the door of my refrigerator.
8. My dress shoes are behind the middle door of the shoes box in my entrance way.
9. My grandchild's toys are in the snoopy chest in front of the bookcase in the Japanese room.
10. My heart is in your hands.

Akita City has provided Antigen (抗原検査) test kits for all the school teachers in the city.  I didn't think I would get one, but Friday afternoon I got an email informing me that I should pick up the test at the City Hall.  I did and  I took the test yesterday. Here are the simple steps: Wash out your mouth, take three deep breaths, and spit into the paper cup Dip the swab into the saliva.     Put the swab into testing bottle, wait for 10 minutes. Put three drops from the bottle into the test kit.   Wait three minutes for test results. Cheer when your results are negative! Now, I have had both PCR and Antigen tests.  Do you know the differences?  I didn't, but I looked into it. PCR tests are more expensive and time consuming, but the results are more accurate.  However, false positives are a small problem. Antigen tests are cheaper, faster, and DIY, but false negatives are a small problem. To me the biggest problem for both tests, is they only tell me the results today!  What happens if I get Covid 19 tomorrow? Oh well, I'm still waiting on the vaccine. https://youtu.be/BjfT6H6QUIA  

Are you enjoying your vacation?  The daily increase of Covid 19 cases in Japan and Akita, have put a huge damper on Golden Week this year.  25 cases yesterday!!!(May 1st) In English, "MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY" is a distress call, just like SOS.  I guess it's fitting that we had the most cases in Akita on that day.  Somebody HELP US! I'm trying to "Enjoy Home" this week.  The same as last year! So, today, let's talk about 我慢. In English, it is usually translated as "endurance", or "patience", but these two words have very different meanings. Five phrases about endurance:

1.  My car is old, but it can still take a licking and keep on ticking.
2. The sudden change of teaching style has been a trial by fire for many teachers.
3. I'm going to pound out this marathon even if it kills me!
4. Are you ready to go the distance in this marriage?
5. My P.E. teacher's favorite motto was; "when the going gets tough, the tough get going".

1. Give him some time, you know Rome wasn't built in a day.  Don't expect him to speak perfect English this week!
2. We have to take this one step at a time, or we will end up being overwhelmed.
3. You know what they say; "a watched pot never boils", give him some space.
4. You know all things come to those who wait . . . .so . . .WAIT!!
5. I don't really expect results in the next 10 years, I'm playing the long game.  Someday the stock prices will shoot up I'm sure.

Today's BGM:

Go the Distance

From Disney's Hercules

Sung my Michael Bolton

      5月11日より，新しい子どものクラスをはじめます。 毎週火曜日 定員：７名 月謝：4,500円

• 初級クラス　4:30~5:20

So, yesterday morning (4/11), I was on my ladder re-attaching the "snow-stoppers" that came off my roof over the winter. Suddenly, my ladder slipped, and I fell from the top.  Luckily, I landed on my grass and not the cement wall!  I'm okay . . . I think.  I have a little pain in my arm where I caught myself, and a scrape on my leg.  That's all.  I will be more careful in the future! However, it gives me a chance to talk about "falling off". 1.   To fall from a  surface or position,  to drop off something. Please be careful not to fall off the roof! I finally found my phone—it must have fallen off the bed. A button fell off my shirt. 

After three years of sobriety, Covid 19 made him fall off the wagon.

[caption id="attachment_2116" align="alignnone" width="675"] Behind Herb World, Nishime[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2120" align="alignnone" width="800"] At Honjo Park[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2132" align="alignnone" width="575"] In Yokote, experiencing a Kamakura[/caption]

I spent a day last week composting my flower beds, and since I had a few questions about it from some of my students, I thought I'd give an explanation here. Step 1: Put your table scraps in a compost bin. Step 2: Put your grass, leaves etc. in a compost pile. Step 3: At the end of the season, mix food scraps and grass, cover with a sheet and let sit over the winter. Step 4: Move to "second compost site", cover with sheet and leave for one year. Step 5: Sift the compost to remove big clumps etc. (I use this big green basket tray). Step 6; Use compost wherever you need it.  This year I put it all around my flower beds and trees.  Last year I spread it on my grass. Step 7: Enjoy your beautiful flowers. March 29th, my first daffodil of spring.   Composting is good for the environment, good for your health, and good for your garden. Let's compost! Today's song is Let's Compost! - YouTube https://youtu.be/GND8jjwTGsw?t=32    

As most of you know by now, my mother passed away on February 25th.  Every day since then (even today) has been a rush of things to do, discuss, and finalize.  Being in Japan so far away has made it much harder.  So, I haven't updated my phrase in awhile.   As a final tribute to my mother, I will post her obituary, which she wrote herself before she passed away.  

Dorothy Ilene Jones

Obituary

DANCE AT MY DEATH

Dance at my death?

Of course,

For I am that much closer

To the stars,

Or play

Or sing--

Most anything

But weep.

I would not like

To lie beneath

Intemperate amounts

Of ill-afforded flowers

Or see my friends

Dark-robed and sad

 Instead of glad.

I go with joy!

So dress in rainbows

On that day,

Play the music

Loud and gay,

Dance 'til you

Are cut of breath,

Make joy and beauty

 Of my death!

Carol C. Ottesen

Sweet Caroline

Neil Diamond

Where it began, I can't begin to knowing But then I know it's growing strong Was in the spring Then spring became the summer Who'd have believed you'd come along Hands, touching hands Reaching out, touching me, touching you [Chorus] Sweet Caroline Good times never seemed so good I'd be inclined To believe they never would So good, so good Look at the night and it don't seem so lonely We filled it up with only two And when I hurt Hurting runs off my shoulder How can I hurt when I'm holding you One, touching one Reaching out, touching me, touching you [Chorus]